OHIO– Nine people have been killed and at least 26 wounded in a mass shooting in Dayton, Ohio – the second US mass shooting in 24 hours as 20 were killed in a shopping mall firing incident in Al Peso Taxes.
Mayor Nan Whaley said the injured were in several hospitals throughout the city.
The shooting began at 01:07 local time (05:07 GMT) in the Oregon district of the city centre.
Police confirmed they killed the gunman at the scene within a minute of him opening fire.
Mayor Nan Whaley told reporters she was “amazed” by the quick response of the officers which she said prevented further deaths, but also stressed it would be a “very, very difficult time” for families of victims.
“As a mayor, this is a day that we all dread happening,” she said. “What’s very sad is I’ve got messages from mayors across the country – it’s sad that we’ve all gone through it.”
The incident came only hours after a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas which left at least 20 people dead.
It also took place less than a week after three people were killed and 15 injured at a food festival in California.
Mayor Whaley called on anyone with information to call the police to aid their investigation.
Assistant Police Chief Matt Carper had earlier told reporters that officers on patrol managed to take down the gunman.
“Our people are very well trained for a situation like this,” he said, adding it was “very fortunate that the officers were in close proximity”.
SOURCE: BBC NEWS
